Yorkshire Terriers

The Yorkshire Terrier, which is often called simply the Yorkie, is a breed of small dog in the terrier category. This long-haired terrier is known for its playful demeanor and distinctive blue and tan coat. Yorkshire Terriers have become the second most popular dog breed in the United States in 2006, trailing only the Labrador Retriever as based on the registrations of the American Kennel Club.

The Yorkshire Terrier was introduced in the United States sometime in 1872. Records show that the first Yorkie was registered with the American Kennel Club in 1878. This registration served to make it one of the first twenty-five breeds to be approved by the American Kennel Club. During the late Victorian era, the Yorkshire Terrier quickly became a popular pet, and reached a new height in popularity. The breed's popularity dipped in the 1940s, when the percentage of small breed dogs that were registered fell to an all-time low of 18% of total registrations. Ironically, it was Smoky, a Yorkie and famous war dog from World War II, that is credited with beginning a renewal of interest in the then obscure Yorkshire Terrier breed. Since then its size, compatiblity and show aspects have once again brought the Yorkshire Terrier to new popularity.

Yorkshire Terriers are known for their compact and athletic builds. While weighing in about only seven pounds they are just usually between six and seven inches in height and are classified as a toy dog. Their coat is made up of ultra long fine and silky hair. Yorkshire Terriers also have no undercoat which means that they do not shed as much as their short haired friends. They are typically colored with steel blue on their body and tails and are tan elsewhere. Many people prefer Yorkies as pets since they carry less dander on their coat, they generally do not have the unpleasant "wet dog" odor when wet, and they may not affect as many people who suffer from dog-related allergies.

The Yorkshire Terrier has a flat head with a medium-sized length muzzle and black nose. Their facial features are highly distinctive with extremely vivacious eyes and V-shaped ears that are erect or semi-erect. These dogs also have tails that are docked to medium-length and are carried level on the back. Generally Yorkshire Terriers live between twelve and fifteen years.

These dogs are often used for show and The Yorkshire Terrier breed standard specifies that the dog should have a compact, athletic build suitable for an active lifestyle; and hold itself in an upright, confident manner. The Yorkie is also characterized as having a free, jaunty gait, with both head and tail held high. For Yorkies, having a toy stature does not necessarily mean being frail or fragile.

Though the Yorkshire Terrier is a toy breed, it still retains much of its terrier ancestry in terms of personality. Individual Yorkies will differ, but they are generally intelligent, independent and courageous. Their behavior towards outsiders will vary as they often will be inclined to bark at strangers, but some Yorkies are outgoing and friendly towards new people while others are withdrawn and aloof. The differences in behavior in this regard are attributed to how the owner trains or conditions (and socializes) the Yorkie. Yorkies will typically get along well with other dogs and love to play together with them. It is amusing to note though that some Yorkies are unaware of their small size and may even challenge larger, tougher dogs

Yorkshire Terriers as a breed are considered to be intelligent dogs. The Yorkshire Terrier is considered to be an above average working dog. This capacity as working dogs enables Yorkies to excel in sports like obedience and agility, which will require the dog to understand communication from the handler and carry out a complex series of commands.

P.S. Here is a Yorkshire Terrier coloring page.

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